Electric UAV Battery Protection Using Position-Based Return Energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face challenges in accurately determining remaining battery life, leading to potential crashes or early returns due to insufficient electricity, especially when flying to remote positions, as users lack intuitive methods to assess voltage values and calculate necessary energy for safe return or landing.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent method for managing electricity in electric UAVs, which involves real-time monitoring of battery levels and position coordinates to calculate the safety electricity amount needed for safe operations, triggering corresponding protection commands if the remaining electricity is insufficient, thereby preventing accidents and optimizing battery utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fixed reference voltage alarm method is used, then the alarm system is simple to implement, but the user cannot receive alarm when flying to remote positions and may crash or return early
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates the electricity consumption required for the UAV to return to the starting position based on coordinate information before the alarm is triggered. This preliminary calculation allows the system to provide advance warning to the user about the actual remaining flight capability, enabling the user to make informed decisions about continuing or returning the flight mission.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors battery voltage and compares it against dynamic thresholds that account for the UAV's current position and required return energy. This feedback mechanism adjusts the alarm trigger point based on real-time flight status and position data, providing accurate warnings that reflect the actual safety margin rather than using fixed voltage thresholds.
2Measurement precision
If real-time position monitoring and safety electricity calculation are implemented, then the alarm accuracy is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs multiple functions using the same hardware resources: it monitors battery voltage, tracks GPS coordinate information, calculates electricity consumption rates, determines return energy requirements, and triggers alarms. By making the controller multi-functional, the system achieves high measurement precision without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own operational data (coordinate information, flight time, battery voltage) to self-calculate the safety electricity threshold and alarm trigger points. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external reference systems or complex additional sensors, achieving precise measurement through intelligent processing of existing system data.
3Productivity
If fixed reference voltage alarm is used, then the system is easy to operate, but battery utilization is reduced due to early returns
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides continuous feedback to the user about the actual remaining electricity and the calculated safety threshold through the remote control interface. This feedback includes information about how much electricity is available versus how much is needed for safe return, enabling the user to operate the UAV with confidence and maximize battery utilization without risking unsafe conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
By pre-calculating the return energy requirement based on position data before the alarm triggers, the system gives the user advance knowledge of the true safety margin. This allows the user to continue flying closer to the actual battery limit rather than returning early based on conservative fixed thresholds, thereby improving battery utilization while maintaining safety.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric unmanned aerial vehicle includes a position sensor configured to obtain first coordinate information of a present position of the electric unmanned aerial vehicle in real-time, a memory configured to store second coordinate information of a preset position of the electric unmanned aerial vehicle, and a controller in communication with the position sensor and the memory. The controller is configured to calculate, based on the first coordinate information and the second coordinate information, safety electricity amount information of the electric unmanned aerial vehicle; select, based on the safety electricity amount information and a present remaining electricity amount of the electric unmanned aerial vehicle, a safety protection command from a plurality of safety protection commands; and control the electric unmanned aerial vehicle to perform the selected safety protection command.